Joe Ryan was spectacular this past season. Despite not earning any AL Cy Young Award votes, his 2025 campaign will go down as one of Minnesota’s best this century. He was an All-Star for the first time, and hopefully this is just the beginning of a long period of dominance for him (as long as it is not traded).
Now it’s time to reflect on some of the best single-season pitching campaigns by a Twins starter this century. How does it work? Joe Ryan takes on these guys?
Remark: This list is for starting pitchers only, and they can only be identified by name once (otherwise Johan Santana would fill most of the rankings).
Honorable mention: Kenta Maeda 2020
bWAR: 1.6
ERA: 2.70
ERA+: 160
WL: 6-1
IP: 66.2
Deletions: 80
Comments: 0.750 WHIP, 2nd in Cy Young
15. Scott Diamant from 2012
bWAR: 2.6
ERA: 3.54
ERA+: 116
WL: 12-9
IP: 173
Deletions: 90
Comments: 1.6 BB/9, 16 quality starts
14. 2002 Rick Reed
bWAR: 2.8
ERA: 3.78
ERA+: 118
WL: 15-7
IP: 188
Deletions: 121
Comments: 1.2 BB/9, 15 quality starts
13. Carlos Silva from 2005
bWAR: 3.5
ERA: 3.44
ERA+: 130
WL: 9-8
IP: 188.1
Deletions: 71
Comments: 0.4BB/9
12. 2019 Jose Berrios
bWAR: 3.6
ERA: 3.68
ERA+: 123
WL: 14-8
IP: 200.1
Deletions: 195
Comments: 2nd straight All-Star appearance, 3 games with 10+ strikeouts
11. Carl Pavano from 2010
bWAR: 3.8
ERA: 3.75
ERA+: 109
WL: 17-11
IP: 221
Deletions: 117
Comments: 7 complete games, 2 shutouts
10. Jake Odorizzi 2019
bWAR: 3.8
ERA: 3.51
ERA+: 129
WL: 15-7
IP: 159
Deletions:178
Comments: Only All-Star appearance, career-high 10.1 K/9
9. Scott Baker from 2008
bWAR: 4.4
ERA: 3.45
ERA+: 122
WL: 11-4
IP: 172.1
Deletions: 141
Comments: 18 quality starts
8. Phil Hughes, 2014
bWAR: 4.6
ERA: 3.52
ERA+: 111
WL: 16-10
IP: 209.2
Deletions: 186
Comments: 11.63 K/BB led the league, 7th in Cy Young
7. Francisco Liriano from 2006
bWAR: 4.5
ERA: 2.16
ERA+: 208
WL: 12-3
IP: 121
Deletions: 144
Comments: 1,000 WHIP, All-Star season only, 6 winless starts
6. 2025 Joe Ryan
bWAR: 4.5
ERA: 3.42
ERA+: 125
WL: 13-10
IP: 171
Deletions: 194
Comments: First All-Star season, 14 quality starts, 20 starts of 0 or 1 walk
5. Brad Radke, 2004
bWAR: 5.9
ERA: 3.48
ERA+: 136
WL: 11-8
IP: 219.2
Deletions: 143
Comments: 24 quality starts
4. Ervin Santana 2017
bWAR: 4.9
ERA: 3.28
ERA+: 135
WL: 16-8
IP: 211.1
Deletions: 167
Comments: 2nd All-Star appearance, 5 complete games, 3 shutouts
3. Sonny Gray 2023
bWAR: 5.6
ERA: 2.79
ERA+: 157
WL: 8-8
IP: 184
Deletions: 183
Comments: Third All-Star appearance, 2nd in Cy Young, 2.83 FIP led AL
2. Joe Mays from 2001
bWAR: 6.6
ERA: 3.16
ERA+: 143
WL: 17-13
IP: 233.2
Deletions: 123
Comments: All-Star season only, 6 or more innings in 30 of 34 starts, 2 shutouts
1. Johan Santana from 2004
bWAR: 8.7
ERA: 2.61
ERA+: 182
WL: 20-6
IP: 228
Deletions: 265
Comments: 0.921 WHIP, First of two Cy Young Award seasons, 25 quality starts, 12 games with 10-plus strikeouts
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